Tag Archives: mousavi

Zahara Rahnavard, wife of Iranian reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, told the UK Guardian that Iranian reformers are not dead nor do they fear the government of President Ahmadinejad whose “Tiananamen-style” attack attempted to crush the opposition. “This movement started with the simple question: where is my vote? But because the response was violence and repression from the ruling regime” it has led to even more fundamental issues such as what has happened to the dream of 1979 when the Shah was overthrown and expectations were for a democratic society. She warned the West not to expect success with an emphasis on sanctions to topple the Ahmadinejad government. “The Iranian government is rich with oil money and money is at its disposal. Sanctions would not affect such a government.” She also made clear reformers are not seeking any assistance from the West because they want “to stand on its own” two feet.

Beatings, assaults, arrests are part of the Ahmadinejad approach to maintain power. “We’ve learned how to work in the time of dictatorship and repression and how to struggle for our goals… We write our own statements, type them ourselves and send them to people all over the world and we try hard gto keep our dialogue without own people alive.” The cause of freedom lives on in Iran, hopefully some day such feelings will be common in Afghanistan.

Iran’s main leaders in the fight to establish a democracy remain steadfast in their desire to continue opposing the administration of President Ahmadinejad Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi met on Monday and called on their supporters to stage demonstrations on June 12. They called on all reform groups to send requests to the Interior Ministry for permission to protest in the streets of their nation. Last year in June Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “won” a fixed election and disregarded the desire so Iranians for a new government committed to principles of democracy. The subsequent demonstrations have encountered brutal suppression and thousands have been arrested as the government has cracked down on any sign of disagreement with authority.

The two leaders spoke about the economic crisis facing Iran. “I do not see a clear prospect of resolving the country’s economic problems because the foundations have been destroyed,” said Mousavi. He challenged the government by emphasizing the Revolutionary Guards will kill and torture in the name of God. Most probably, the government will respond to these statements by either imprisoning the clerics or taking action against family members.

Iran’s president Ahmadinejad and its chief religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have stroked the fire of fanaticism by sending crowds into the streets chanting death to those who oppose the government. Opposition leader, Mir Hossein Mousavi has been threatened and warned about continuing his campaign of denouncing the government. At least eight have died in demonstrations over the past week including the nephew of Mousavi. In response for demands of his silence, Mousavi quietly noted: “I explicitly and clearly state that in order to execute, murder and imprison (opposition leaders)… won’t resole the problem. I’m not afraid to be one of the martyrs people have offered in the struggle for their just demands.” He placed blame on “specific individuals and the state TV” for arousing street anger.

The nightmare confronting Iran’s leadership is that one of those who have been aroused to kill will murder Mousavi and set into motion even larger protests.

As anyone who is not in the pay of the CIA or other western intelligence agencies knows, there was a fair election in Iran last June in which the grateful people of Iran gave their beloved president Ahmadinejad an overwhelming victory. After all, who else could have taken billions in oil profits and made certain they had no effect on stimulating the Iranian economy? Who else but the Great Leader Ahmadinejad would be able to know exactly how many votes he would obtain in any single district before voters had even voted? Who else but the man who knows all would be able to secure MORE VOTES IN A DISTRICT THAN THERE WERE VOTERS! Let’s be honest, to achieve such results it requires a political genius, not a demagogue.

Mohammad Nabi Habibi, one of the lackeys who drool each night at the prospect of standing close to the beloved leader wants those who spread the infamous lie that somehow fraud occurred in the election to be sent directly to jail. “I believe Mousavi and all those who propogated this big lie must face trial in a court of law.” I think Habibi is right, the problem right now is where oh where can one find a court of law in Iran these days? Oh well, who the heck needs law these days in Iran which now leads the world in killing people who oppose the government. Off with their heads, but let’s not really count the election ballots

Although intervention from Ayatollah Khamenei enabled President Ahmadinejad to obtain approval of his Cabinet from a reluctant parliament, Iranian reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi continues fighting for the rights of his people. He called for protests against the fraudulent election to resume. “People, your friends are committed not to betray you on the path of fighting liars and fraudsters. With respect to this commitment, the only way that I recommend is to continue on the green path that you have followed in the past months…. with small and large gatherings, campaigns and questions.”

Over a hundred people are currently charged with “crimes” that most probably consist of not agreeing with the ideas of Åhmadinejad. Public protests have died down in the past month since students are back in school and pressure to avoid openly confronting authority is present. The strategy of Mousavi is focusing on family and friends to keep alive the principles of democracy in order to avoid having innocent people sent to jail and torture. It is a quiet soft revolution, but in the long term may be the most logical manner of proceeding.

Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi escalated his challenge to the government by making the unpopular claim that “establishment agents” raped and abused detainees after being arrested. He mocked the argument of prison authorities that a woman claiming to be raped had to produce four witnesses to the alleged rape. Mousavi further claimed officials were threatening detainees as well as offering bribes if they would recant on statements about being raped. “They were threatening detainees to keep silent.”

Mousavi made a forthright statement by insisting Islamic religious leaders had a responsibility to step in and halt this human abuse. “It is the main duty of revolutionary clergy to reflect the realities, but some have closed their eyes and ignored this responsibility.” However, he praised clergy who are speaking out about the horrors that were committed against innocent men and women who were arrested following June’s presidential election.

Many wonder why Mousavi is still allowed to speak out so forcibly. It may indicate there is a division of opinion within the Iranian leadershi as to the future of Ahmadinejad. Can the nation afford such a divisive leader?

They came by the thousands into the streets of Tehran, many wearing black with the Mousavi campaign signature’s green wristbands and red roses could be seen in the hands of those who were tired of having their nation transformed into a giant jail. They had come to mourn the death of Neda Soltan who was brutally shot during protests in the aftermath of the stolen Iranian presidential election. Hundreds of police wielding batons struck repeatedly at those who had come to express their grief for a young woman who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mir Hossein Mousavi who “lost” to President Ahmadinejad was forced to leave the cemetery but his wife gained entrance. She walked into the cemetery along with many clerics and former members of Parliament. Neda’s mother spoke for everyone by saying: “Her death has been so painful that words can never describe my true feelings. But knowing that the world cried for her has comforted me.”

Ahmadinejad is “president of Iran” but even conservative Iranian clerics are furious at his incompetence and brutality which has unleashed a wave of fury against leaders of the country. The Ides of June may well be warnings that Ahmadinejad’s tenure in office will be short.

Thousands of Iranians who believed their votes had been stolen by President Ahmadinejad in the recent election crowded the streets to hear the voice of cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani who was delivering a Friday prayer service. Shouts of “freedom freedom” echoed in the air even as police and the dreaded Basiji thugs patrolled the streets or hurled tear gas as those shouting for freedom. In his sermon which was broadcast nationally Rafsanjani reprimanded the clerical leadership for failing to ensure there was a fair election and also for their brutal attacks on innocent Iranians who simply wanted democracy to be practiced. “Doubt has been created” about the election, he said. “There is a large portion of the wise people who say they have doubts. We need to take action to remove this doubt.”

At the core of what Rafsanjani said was “where people are not present or their vote is not considered, that government is not Islamic.” He called upon the Guardian Council to seize an “opportunity to unite the people and regain their trust.” It is still unclear as to the meaning of the speech. There is no question it represents a challenge to Ayatollah Khamenei and his side kick, Ahmadinejad. There is no doubt only someone of the stature of Rafsanjani could get away with such words. Will the words fall on deaf ears or will there be an intelligent response?

Forces of opposition to the government of President Ahmadinejad refuse to go away in quiet, but continue demonstrating and organizing in ways that have not been seen for years in Iran. Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi is planning to unveil a new political group which will continue the protest campaign until either they are forcibly shut down or changes made in the electoral process. According to Mousavi aide, Alireza Beheshti, “the establishment of this front is on Mir Hossein Mousavi’s agenda and we will soon announce its establishment.” The group most probably will focus on defending the rights of citizens to speak and protest against what millions believe was a stolen election. Ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was quotes as saying in a newspaper article that “the elite and academics voted for Mousavi and they can help Mousavi in establishing such a front.”

One wonders if Aytatollah Khamenei and Ahmadindejad misread the situation in the country. They probably did not forsee that Mousavi and hundreds of thousands would take to the streets and refuse to cease expressing their ideas. Mousavi continues to visit the families of those who died which undoubtedly keeps his name in the public eye and links him to those who have grown weary of Ahmadinejad.

Failure on the part of the government to arrest Mousavi weeks ago suggests there is debate within government and clerical circles on how to proceed.

There is an erie quiet in many parts of Iran as protestors gather together in hope of uncovering new ways to protest the brutality of their nation’s government against those expressing their ideas in public. Presidential challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, refuses to remain silent and continues openly demanding a new election to replace the fraudulent stealing of the presidency by Ahmadinejad. “It is our historical responsibility to continue our protests and not to abandon our efforts to preserve the nation’s rights.” He wants the constitution respected and rights to free speech, assembly and the press allowed. Former Iranian reform president Mohammed Khatami said the “election” kwas a “velvet coup against democracy.” He noted that while the government press speaks of national reconciliation, protestors still are beaten and imprisoned.

The only response from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is to continue blaming everything on “foreign interference.’ Every time clerics or government officials make this claim it only reinforces belief within the country that the election was a fraud. The people of Iran witnessed their genuine complaint about an election lead to beatings by the government.

Unfortunately, hundreds are still in jail where they are beaten, and in some cases, there are reports of rape.